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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is this Ageism? (Job Interview)

103 replies

ladylovesmilktray · 03/02/2021 16:21

I recently interview for a job and just got this emailed response.

Thanks for interviewing with the team earlier this week for the above position. Unfortunately on this occasion we've decided to go with someone else for this role.

Although the team were really impressed with both your experience and the ideas you mentioned (particularly in regards to XXX), we've decided to go with someone who is more of a younger, up and coming voice which meets certain strategic organisational goals for us.

I am annoyed I ever went for the job and wish they hadn't shortlisted me in the first place though I imagine this could have been classed as discrimination.

AIBU to think this is overt age discriminination? Or I am just feeling sour grapes (and like a bitter old hag)?

OP posts:
AccidentallyRunToWindsor · 03/02/2021 22:10

It's up to you what choose to do but you would in my opinion have a case for age discrimination.

Maybe just give ACAS a call?

Overall though, don't let this out you off please

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 03/02/2021 22:16

A chairman said to me at interview "well I don't want someone that's going to start and then get pregnant, and you're obviously too old for that."

£9.5k
ka-ching Grin

UrAWizHarry · 03/02/2021 22:19

Who gives a crap whether it's a small company?

Absolutely that translates as "we want someone younger and cheaper". Don't stand for it.

Livingtothefull · 03/02/2021 22:46

'I'm worried about legal action as it's a small media company (about 6 staff). I wouldn't want to take any money from it'.

It's up to you of course but any outcome of legal action is on them not you. In the event you have been denied a job and salary on spurious grounds that is a huge loss due to discrimination which should potentially be made good. I think you should consider your own interest here as well.

ammary · 03/02/2021 22:57

I probably wouldn't take actual legal action but I would be telling them that I was just to let them see the error of their ways.

How frustrating for you OP.

GreenClock · 03/02/2021 23:00

Is it a small industry where you are? Are you concerned that if you pursue a case against this company, other companies in the field will get wind of it and avoid hiring you? I’m not saying that’s the case, just asking.

wendyleen · 03/02/2021 23:29

The thing is, unless people start challenging this sort of crap then employers will continue to get away with it.

ShemShem · 03/02/2021 23:49

@EarringsandLipstick

She has great, 'young' ideas as she is exposed to them and expected to come up with them.

That's still a discriminating view!

You indicate it by putting young in quotes. The whole point is implying that having a youthful view & approach is somehow better than another approach. This is typically held by someone who is, actually, young.

In your case, you're presenting your mum as an unusual case, as she is someone with young views, though she isn't.

Regardless, the email as was sent to OP is clearly discriminatory, in the context of a reason for not giving them the job.

If they're a media company then a younger view would be better. Because it's what their clients would expect.

You think a boring old fart would come up with fun content? No. Hence why they look for people who can tap into and come up with 'young' ideas. You don't have to however be young to do that. Hence why a claim for age discrimination would be unlikely.

Original poster
ladylovesmilktray · 03/02/2021 23:52

It was not a content creation role. You seem to have a very short sighted idea of what the Media is.

OP posts:
ItsIgginningtolooklikelockdown · 03/02/2021 23:55

@EveryDayIsADuvetDay

A chairman said to me at interview "well I don't want someone that's going to start and then get pregnant, and you're obviously too old for that."

£9.5k
ka-ching Grin

You got a settlement even though they were giving you the job (due to their sexism)?
Yellowfiledredfilled · 04/02/2021 08:14

Although the team were really impressed with both your experience and the ideas you mentioned (particularly in regards to XXX), we've decided to go with someone who is more of a younger, up and coming voice which meets certain strategic organisational goals for us If the person they went for demonstrated they had better ideas which they felt were more connected to their "younger" target audience, would this still be considered age discrimination? Is it not the ideas both candidates had that is being assessed here?
They were daft to mention any age in their feedback though - for a small company getting their head around recruitment, safer to have a policy of giving bland, meaningless feedback.

Aprilx · 04/02/2021 08:27

@user1477249785

Doesn't it depend how old you are whether age is a protected characteristic? How old are you op? I thought it was only over 40 that it was protected but don't know why I think that.
No it doesn’t depend on age. Younger people can also be age discriminated against e.g. an employer cannot say “we decided to go for an older candidate as they likely to be more reliable”.
C8H10N4O2 · 04/02/2021 08:30

more of a younger, up and coming voice which meets certain strategic organisational goals for us

Yes its ageism. They can try to couch it as "a type" rather than an actual age but unless they can demonstrate they recruited and older person they are on shakey ground.

It doesn't surprise me slightly that the company is small - they probably won't have the HR/legal advice to keep them clean on recruitment practices. Apparently they also haven't read the raft of research showing the benefits of a diverse workforce across all sectors.

That said - discrimination is a difficult area to pursue which is probably why its still so commonplace.

barofsoap · 04/02/2021 08:31

@ladylovesmilktray

Thanks so much for all your posts and your practical advice. I'm 41. I'm worried about legal action as it's a small media company (about 6 staff). I wouldn't want to take any money from it. I feel like it's really out me off going for any jobs in this industry now as I'm not what they're looking for even four years after I last got a job in Media. How quickly do times change these days?!
you may not want to take any money from them but might be worth discussing with CAB / solicitor and then sending a letter pointing out what they have done. May just be enough to put the wind up them
LaBellina · 04/02/2021 08:34

Yes this is definitely discrimination based on age.
They’ve been so utterly stupid to write this to you, if you want to sue them you’ll have a very easy case I’d think. The matter is, do you really want to spend the time and effort to sue them?
I haven’t had to deal with age discrimination but last time I was looking for a new job, interviewers were shamelessly asking about my relationship status and the thought of it still pisses me off.
I’m all for it to sue this type of companies just to teach them a lesson but you have to decide if it’s worth your time and energy.

stevalnamechanger · 04/02/2021 08:35

Did they put that in writing ? If so get a lawyer

IrmaFayLear · 04/02/2021 08:43

It does seem discriminatory, but....

You are always seeing the BBC saying that they want to appeal to a younger audience and so are changing up presenters etc. Eg Woman’s Hour’s new presenters are not 50-something women; presumably any candidates for the presenting roles of this age would have been rejected for not fitting the profile.

VinylDetective · 04/02/2021 09:11

The BBC was successfully sued for age discrimination by a Countryfile presenter a few years ago so I don’t think we should hold them up as the arbiter of good practice.

TakeTheCuntOutOfScunthorpe · 04/02/2021 09:14

Whilst as a recruiter I might take a decision based on someone's age, I would never tell them that was the reason let alone put it in writing! We all know it goes on, I've rejected applicants for being too young for the role as well as being too old (technically discrimination but I was comfortable it was the best decision, even if obviously unfair).

Sue 'em!

Tippexy · 04/02/2021 10:43

@TakeTheCuntOutOfScunthorpe

Whilst as a recruiter I might take a decision based on someone's age, I would never tell them that was the reason let alone put it in writing! We all know it goes on, I've rejected applicants for being too young for the role as well as being too old (technically discrimination but I was comfortable it was the best decision, even if obviously unfair).

Sue 'em!

In what way could someone be too old for a role?
ThatIsNotMyUsername · 04/02/2021 12:00

Unless I’m going for the role of the milky bar kid or principle ballerina at the bolshoi...

Piglet89 · 04/02/2021 12:08

@Crankley

There may be another vacancy there soon, when they sack the person who wrote that.

PMSL.

TheSunIsStillShining · 04/02/2021 12:30

Sour grapes. But I am in the same boat, so totally sympathize with you :)

IrmaFayLear · 04/02/2021 12:33

I am definitely not holding up the BBC as anything! I just wondered whether “creative differences” allow a get-out clause.

Years ago I jumped through about 2,000 hoops on the path to a BBC job. I was down to the final three... the successful person - quite coincidentally - had the same very unusual surname as a very prominent BBC stalwart...

AlternativePerspective · 04/02/2021 12:41

It is definite age discrimination.

TBH though I would think about whether you want to sue them, because while suing is a short term fix, in a niche industry such as media you could (wrongly) earn a reputation which could put you in an unfair light in the future. And next time, an employer simply wouldn’t interview you.

I had an offer of interview withdrawn on the basis that when they found out I have a disability they said “well, what if the system turned out not to be able to be adapted, it would be unfair on a non disabled candidate if we offered the job to you and then weren’t able to fulfil it and they’d lost out.”

Blatant discrimination and illegal. But the way I saw it is that if they’re that openly discriminatory would I want to work for them anyway?

A company who is that blatant won’t stop at that. They’re likely looking for “younger” people because younger people are more naive and easier to intimidate.